Dr. Kathe Hift, PhD

Dr. Kathe Hift, PhD

Psychologist
27 West 86th St, Suite C, New York, NY
4.83
“Dr. Hift was very easy to talk to and I felt comfortable speaking with her about very personal matters. She was respectful and I felt that I could be very honest with her. Her empathy helped me to express my feelings. She is intelligent and knowledgeable and her observations helped me to better understand some of the issues that I have been struggling with. ”
SR
Highly recommended
92% of patients gave this doctor 5 stars
Excellent wait time
100% of patients waited less than 30 minutes
New patient appointments
Appointments available for new patients on Zocdoc

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Available appointments

Today, Apr 4 – Fri, Apr 17
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What patients are saying

Overall rating

4.83

Average wait time

5.00

Bedside manner

5.00
“Dr. Hift was very easy to talk to and I felt comfortable speaking with her about very personal matters. She was respectful and I felt that I could be very honest with her. Her empathy helped me to express my feelings. She is intelligent and knowledgeable and her observations helped me to better understand some of the issues that I have been struggling with. ”
SRLess than 1 year ago
“Dr Kathe Hift is an exceptional therapist. She has extensive experience in child treatment, adult therapy and psychoanalysis, couple therapy, she has been a true life coach for me. She is an empathetic, highly skilled professional. I am extremely grateful and could not thank her enough for the life-changing help she provided to me and my family. ”
HPMore than 1 year ago

About Dr. Kathe Hift

Focus areas

Analytical Therapy / Psychoanalysis
Malaise
Self Esteem Issues
Depression
Parenting Counseling
Loneliness
Relationship Struggles

Clientele seen

Children (<13)
Adults (25-64)
Teenagers (13-17)
Seniors (65+)
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals

Treatment approaches

Play Therapy
Relational
Psychoanalytic
Psychodynamic

Identity

Gender

Female

Languages spoken

English

Getting to know Dr. Kathe Hift

I am a PhD clinical psychologist with over 40 years of experience taking care of patients in crisis and helping people with emotional concerns. My practice primarily involves adults who are struggling with relationship issues, work problems, anxiety, depression, stress, or just a vague sense that something is wrong or missing in their lives. It seems to me that what's important in therapy is for each person to have the opportunity to understand their own unique story and be excited about who they are. Through understanding our experiences with emotional depth we can develop inner capacities that enable us to have richer more meaningful lives. Some of my work also involves helping children and parents. Areas of special expertise involve young children, ADHD, twins, adoption and autism. I see child therapy as a partnership between me and the parents. My focus is on trying to understand the child's difficulties with the help of the parents and then planning out appropriate interventions. I don't always recommend therapy for the child, but instead I choose to work with the parents so they can help their own child. These past couple of years we have been dealing with very difficult times. Many people who have never thought about needing therapy are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, discouraged and depressed. I'm now seeing many people who are in therapy for the first time. I started out my clinical training as a psychologist in a clinical child program at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston. I then received a PhD from Adelphi University in adult clinical psychology. I received further child training during my internship at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s services in Manhattan. I then worked in Child Psychiatry at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, before going into full time private practice. I trained as a psychoanalyst and received a certificate in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis from New York University.

What should a new client know about working with you?

I feel strongly that therapy involves a good match between patient and therapist. I'm very committed to helping patients find a good match. If I'm not a good match for a patient, I'm very open to helping them find another therapist who is a good match, if I can.

What is your typical process for working with clients?

I usually spend a few minutes connecting with new patients on the phone before the first session so that I can figure out whether I would be a good match for them. I then confirm their session. The first few sessions usually are spent with the patient telling their story and sharing their concerns.We then talk together about a treatment plan. I give patients regular sessions, but I try very hard to re-schedule whenever patients have to change appointments.

In-network insurances

Dr. Kathe Hift is not in-network with any insurances

It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more

Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $300 for 45 minutes
  • Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay
  • Files your insurance claim: You pay the session fee upfront and the provider files the claim for you, so you can get reimbursed directly without worrying about the paperwork

More information on payments and coverage

Unfortunately, I don't participate in any in network insurances which means that if you only have in network insurance, you would have to pay the fee out of pocket. I do have a certain number of low fee and no fee slots, but once they're filled I can only put you on a waiting list.

Popular visit reasons

Anxiety
Depression
Mental Health Consultation
Parenting Counseling
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit
Therapy
Worry
Anxiety
Depression
Mental Health Consultation
Parenting Counseling

Office location

Dr. Kathe Hift, PhD also offers online video visits for patients
Dr. Kathe Hift, PhD
27 West 86th St, Suite C, New York, NY 10024

Education and background

Practice names

Education and training

  • Adelphi University, PhD in Clinical Psychology
  • New York University, Certificate in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis
  • Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services (Internship)
  • Tufts Medical Center, Master's in Clinical Child Psychology
  • Mount Holyoke College (Bachelor's)

NPI number

1447474796

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.83
Wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
5.00
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12 reviews
Most relevant
Dr. Hift was very easy to talk to and I felt comfortable speaking with her about very personal matters. She was respectful and I felt that I could be very honest with her. Her empathy helped me to express my feelings. She is intelligent and knowledgeable and her observations helped me to better understand some of the issues that I have been struggling with.
Dr Kathe Hift is an exceptional therapist. She has extensive experience in child treatment, adult therapy and psychoanalysis, couple therapy, she has been a true life coach for me. She is an empathetic, highly skilled professional. I am extremely grateful and could not thank her enough for the life-changing help she provided to me and my family.
I feel lucky that I found Dr. Kathe Hift in a very hard time of my life. She was able to guide me through difficult life circumstances, and help me understand the root of my problems. She also helped me took steps towards a life that today is more fulfilling and happy, and that was the result that I expected from therapy.
I consulted Dr. Hift about my 6-year-old son's emotional difficulties resulting from my very conflictual divorce. She was tremendously helpful! She saw my son in play therapy and me in child guidance. She was comfortable with our speaking French to her which was nice for us. She was always very caring, professional and above all very insightful about both my son and my difficulties. She gives you the understanding and guidance that enables you to solve your problems in a very adaptive way. You no longer feel that you're alone with your problems. Later, impressed by the results with my son, I consulted Dr. Hift for myself. I was very lucky a friend recommended her to me. It really changed my life!
What sets Dr. Hift apart from other psychologists is her unique approach of supporting both the child AND the parent during child treatment. My son saw Dr. Hift regularly each week and I did as well. Her guidance and perspective on my son's emotional challenges helped me learn how to be the best mother for my son and also provided me with encouragement and a place to share what was happening at home each week. I can't recommend Dr. Hift highly enough.
I thought Dr. Hift was terrific. She not only projects warmth and understanding, but her insights are outstanding. You feel she is following closely everything you say and can be supportive as well as helpful. I could hardly wait to see her again, both in order to talk and to hear what she had to say. She is also inspiring. She makes you feel hopeful about what matters to you. Her explanations of things are also very accessible and clear. I am amazed at how closely she listens and how well she remembers what I say.
I don't know what we would have done without her! This doctor expertly guided us through our daughter's evolving mental health crises providing knowledge, support, and countermeasures that saved her life -- and ours.
Verified patient
Verified patient
Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Kathe Hift?

Generally, Dr. Kathe Hift has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Hift's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Dr. Kathe Hift accepting new patients?

Dr. Kathe Hift generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Hift's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Dr. Kathe Hift accept my insurance?

Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Hift is in-network.

Can I make an appointment with Dr. Kathe Hift online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Hift using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

What practice does Dr. Kathe Hift work with?

Where is Dr. Kathe Hift's office located?

Dr. Kathe Hift has 3 office locations in New York, view full addresses on Dr. Hift's profile.

What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Kathe Hift?

Dr. Kathe Hift frequently sees patients for Anxiety, Depression, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Kathe Hift on their profile.

What languages does Dr. Kathe Hift speak?

Dr. Kathe Hift speaks English.

How do patients rate Dr. Kathe Hift in reviews?

12 patients have reviewed Dr. Kathe Hift. The overall rating for this doctor is 4.83/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 5/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.

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